Michael Schade

German-Canadian tenor Michael Schade, who was born in Geneva, completed his vocal studies in Toronto and at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. He soon succeeded in winning engagements on the leading stages of both the Old and New Worlds. He enjoys a particularly close relationship with the Vienna Staatsoper, where he appeared in the 2009-10 season as Matteo in Strauss’ Arabella and as Flamand in Capriccio; previous appearances there have included numerous Mozart roles as well as the roles of Leukippos (Daphne), David (Die Meistersinger), and Alfred (Die Fledermaus). Since 1994 Michael Schade has performed each summer at the Salzburg Festival, most recently as Rinaldo in Haydn’s Armida and as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte. Michael Schade has also recently added three major roles to his repertoire: At the Metropolitan Opera he sang his first Nathanael in Massenet’s Thaïs; he performed the Prince in Dvořáks Rusalka at Canadian Opera; and in Hamburg he sang Aschenbach in Britten’s Death in Venice. As a concert singer, Michael Schade has partnered with the Vienna and Berlin Philharmonics, the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Cleveland Orchestra, as well as with the Concentus Musicus Wien; he has been particularly influenced by Nikolaus Harnoncourt. He is additionally devoted to the art of lieder singing and recently appeared as “artist-in-residence” at the Vienna Musikverein, performing in quartet evenings featuring the Liebeslieder-Walzer of Brahms and in duets with Thomas Quasthoff. His discography includes a recording of the St. Matthew Passion under the baton of Harnoncourt, which won a Grammy Award; Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde with Pierre Boulez; Mozart’s Requiem with Claudio Abbado; and Schubert’s song cycle Die schöne Müllerin.

One previous LUCERNE FESTIVAL appearance: on March 10, 2008, as the Evangelist in Bach’s St. John Passion, with the Concentus Musicus Wien and Nikolaus Harnoncourt.

May 2010